Moving-picture film.



PATENTED 1130.31, 1907. F. L. DYER & D. HOLDEN.

MOVING PICTURE FILM.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 21, 1905.

, IbVentors ml haJ-W x zfizuwdhmw emf Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIon FRANK DYER, OF MONTOLAIR, AND DELOS HOLDEN, OF UPPER MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY,

ASSIGNORS TO EDISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 01* WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A-

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

'i movme-rrc'runn FILM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1907.

Application filed October 21. 1905- Serial No. 283,838-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK L. DYER, a citizen-of the United States, and a resident of Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, and DnLos HOLDEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Upper Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Moving- Picture Films, of w 'ch the following is a description.

Our invention relates to moving picture films of the type wherein the pictures representing successive phases of movement are not arran ed in a single, regular numerical sequence, ut are arranged in, two arithmetical series, the members of which alternate, one series being shifted longitudinally of the film as re ards the other series, so that the photographs of one series are preceded by photographs of the other series which are representative of later phases of movement, whereby it becomes possible to exhibit the pictures of the two series in proper numerical order at separate display openings which are situated at some distance from each other, by intermittently moving the film at each opening in alternation a distance equal to t e length of two adjacent pictures, as for example, the film disclosed in Patent No. 620,357, granted February 28th, 1899 to Prestwich. In using a film ofthis description it is necessary that the film be threaded through the apparatus in such a way that the pictures will be displayed in proper order, and in case an apparatus having two obi'ectives for projectin the pictures is used the atter must be caused to focus at exactly the same spot upon the screen. These operations are both somewhat difl'icult as ordi narily it takes considerable study to determine from a moving picture film the order in which the ictures were taken.

It is the ob ect of the present invention to produce a film of this description having indicia whereby these operations are reatly facilitated and whereby the danger 0 errors in inserting or threading the film through the ap aratus will be avoided.

11 order that the invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspccificatipn, and in which F gure 1, is an elevation of a fragment of our 1m roved moving picture film, illustratmg a ymg b1rd as the moving object, and part of a steeple as the stationary background. Flg. 2, a diagrammatic view of a suitable apparatus for exhibiting the film, and Fig. 3, a view showing the exhibited picture on the screen, with the succeeding picture illustrated in dotted lines.

In these views corresponding parts are represented by the same letters of reference.

The film a may be like the usual celluloid positive films now used in the art, having perforated edges 6. The photographs shown on the film are arranged so that the pictures representative, for example, of odd numbers, (1, 3, 5, et seq.) commence near the beginning of the film, while those representative of even numbers (2, 4, 6, et seq.) are shifted lengthwise of the film so as to alternate with the odd numbered pictures representative of later Phases of movement. Thus, in Fig. 1, we show the second picture as being ar ranged between the seventh and ninth pictures, but it might obviously be arranged between any other of the odd series, it being only important that enough length of film should exist between the first and second pictures as to allow for the distance between the two exposure openings in the exhibiting film now engages the sprocket h, having an.

intermittent feed movement of suificient extent to advance the film a distance equal to two pictures at each feed movement, so that only the pictures of the desired series will be brought to rest opposite the exposure opening g, as will be understood. Below the intermittent feed it, the film forms a loop 71,

and then passes between guides j, forming a second exposure opening is, where the ictures of the second series are exhibited. elow this exposure opening the film engages a second intermittent sprocket Z, similar to the sprocket h, and so timed with relation to the sprocket h as to exhibit at the exposure openmg In only the pictures of the second but it will be understood that a single source of light may be used with mirrors or prisms for dividing the rays and directing them through the exposure openings. We also show two objectives 7 and s of the usual form, so inclined as to focus on the screen t at the same point, but it will be understood that a single objective ma be used with mirrors or risms for alternate y directing the light rays om the two exposure openings through such objective, in which case a shutter need not be used.

When two objectives are em loyed, we prefer to use two shutters u an 1;, having 0 aque portions of 180 degrees, movin in t e same direction and so timed that w en the shutter u begins to cut off light from the exposure opening g, the shutter 12 will begin to open the exposure opening 7: and vice 'versa.. With such an apparatus the film will be exhibited as follows: The film is first threaded through the apparatus, care being taken that the first picture of one series shall be exhibited at the e osure opening is, and. the first picture 0 the second series shall be exhibited at the exposure 0 ening 9. To facilitate this adjustment t e film may be conveniently provided with two sections w and :0, having convenient indicia thereon (a' circle being shown), one of which is in advance of and in step with the pictures of each arithmetical series, and these sections are brought opposite the two exposure openings and can be em loyed for ocusing and for determining the correct position of the pictures, preliminary to the operation of the film.

In operation, the film will be fed at two points, a picture of one series bein exhibited at the exposure opening g, and uring this v exhibition, the succeeding picture of the second series will be broug t opposite the exposure o ening 7c, the feed mechanism being preferably so timed as to bring a succeeding picture to rest before the previously exhib- 1ted picture is moved, so that intervals exist between the feed movements where one picture of both series will be held statio in its ex osure openin As soon as the utter 11, egins to out o the picture shown at g, the shutter '0 will begin to disclose the picture at rest at the exposure opening. k, so that when the shutters are movmgacross their exposure openings, the picture on the screen will be a composite picture, composed partly of the picture at the exposure opening 9, and partly of the picture atthe exposure 0 niplg 7c. As soonhas the shutter fully teictureatteexposureo e spro ket It will operate to advari e tlig fi im so as to permit the exhibition of thesuoceeding picture of the same series at that exposure opening; and this is also of course. true in connection with the exhibition of the succeeding pictures of the other series at the exosure opening it. It will be understood, owever, that the shutters maybe so arranged as to fully su rimpose one of the pic/ tures before the e bited picture is withdrawn, but such an arrangement would not.

be so desirable for the reason that there would be a change of light, and possibly a sh ht flickering.

in F 3, we illustrate the effect on the screen 0 the successive projection of two pictures, one being shown in full lines and the following in dotted lines. Of course, the dif ference in the phase of movement in the two pictures is somewhat exaggerated and should preferablg be so gradua chan es 111 one picture to another imperce ti le to the eye.

aving now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a mov ing picture film carrying two arithmetical se ries of photographs re resenting successive phases of movement tlih members of which series alternate, and the photographs of one as to makethe series being preceded by photographs of the other series which are representative of later phases of movement, and an indicator for each series arranged in advance and in step with the pictures thereof, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a moving picture film ca photographs representmg successive p ases of movement, the photo aphs constitut' the even numbered series eing relatively s l iifted lo 'tudinally of the film with resdpeot to the p otogra be representing the 0d numbered series, an an indicator for each series arranged in advance and in step with the pictures thereof, sub stantially as and for t e purposes set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a movmg picture film having pictures arranged in two distinct series and provided with two indicators corresponding to the two series subseries in advance thereof, and in step with stantially as and for the purposes set forth. the pictures thereof, substantially as and for 4. As a new article of manufacture, a movthe urposes set forth. ing picture film, having its pictures arranged This specification signed and witnessed 5 in two distinct series, and an indicator for this 19th day of October, 1905.

each series arranged in advance thereof, sub- FRANK L. DYER.

stantially as and for the purposes set forth. DELOS HOLDEN.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a mov Witnesses:

ing picture film, having its pictures arranged J. F. RANDOLPH,

10 in two distinct series, anindicator for each ANNA R. KLEHM. 

